CH- 27
CH- 27
Detective Conan’s POV
I sat behind my desk in the precinct, frustration simmering beneath the surface.
If anyone thought dealing with criminals was tough, they clearly hadn’t tangled with the billionaire world. Every step of this investigation felt like wading through quicksand.
Even securing a warrant to search Nathan Delanza’s properties had been shot down without hesitation.
“I don’t understand why this is a problem, sir,” I argued, pacing in front of my boss’s desk. He was a short, stocky man with decades of experience etched into his face—and an unshakable loyalty to procedure.
“Conan,” he said firmly, leaning back in his chair, “you don’t just hand out warrants to search the properties of a billionaire, even if they’ve been accused of murder.”
“Accused?” I snapped, stopping mid-pace. My hands clenched into fists at my sides. “Sir, it’s clear as day. Nathan Delanza and his friend Lucas Noah were caught on camera leaving his penthouse—the very room where a woman was found dead. If neither of them is responsible, then who is?”
My boss sighed, rubbing his temples. “Calm down, Detective. That footage lasted barely five seconds, and all we saw were two men with their heads down exiting a hotel. They could’ve come from any room. It doesn’t prove anything, and that’s how the higher-ups will see it. Look, I’m sorry, but billionaires don’t get accused of murder unless we have something solid tying them to the crime. So instead of wearing a hole in my office floor, put that energy into finding actual evidence.”
With that, I was dismissed—like some rookie cop being sent off to fetch coffee. Fine. If the system wanted to tie my hands, then I’d find another way.
The higher-ups underestimated me, and that was their mistake. If they needed evidence, I’d give them evidence—enough to make their heads spin.
Since retiring my last partner, I’d become something of a lone wolf. From the moment I stepped into the police academy as a wide-eyed kid, my mission had been simple: put away the bad guys.
That guiding principle had driven me through every case, no matter how impossible it seemed. And this one? This one wasn’t going to break me.
Grabbing my keys and briefcase, I left the precinct alone. Once in my car, I pulled out the file I’d been obsessing over for days.
Lucas Noah—a childhood friend of Nathan’s—was tight-lipped and fiercely protective. He was hiding something, maybe even Nathan himself.
But there was someone else who intrigued me: Amelia Benito. She worked closely with Nathan, part of his inner circle.
Her passion, her fierceness—it stood out. If anyone knew something, it would be her.
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The first thing I noticed when the door opened was the resemblance. The tall, elegant woman standing before me looked strikingly like Amelia. Age had softened her features, but the beauty was undeniable.
“Quiet down!” she shouted over her shoulder at two boys playing loudly behind her. Turning back to me, she offered a warm smile. “I’m sorry about that. Kids go crazy sometimes.”
“I understand,” I replied smoothly, flashing my badge. “My name is Detective Conan. I’m looking for Amelia Benito.”
Her smile faltered instantly, replaced by suspicion and a hint of defensiveness. “A detective? What business do you have with my daughter?”
“Oh, nothing to worry about, ma’am,” I assured her, keeping my tone light. “With everything happening at her company, we’re just trying to gather information while ensuring everyone’s safe.”
Something shifted in her demeanor. She opened the door wider, inviting me inside. As I stepped into the modest apartment, I spotted two young boys on the floor, engrossed in a game with toy trucks. Twins, most likely.
“Beautiful boys,” I remarked casually. “Amelia’s siblings?”
“Yes, though not from the same father,” she answered curtly, leading me to a small sitting area adjacent to the kitchen. Once seated, she fixed me with a steely gaze. “Mr. Conan, let me make one thing clear. My daughter is hardworking, resilient, and brilliant. Whatever nonsense is going on at her company, she has nothing to do with it. I trust you’ll see that during your investigation.”
Ah, the classic mama bear routine. I nodded respectfully. “No one’s accusing her of anything, ma’am. Like I said, we’re just making sure everyone’s alright.”
She stared me down, daring me to contradict her. “She is fine,” she insisted firmly, almost dismissively.
“Well, that’ll be all,” I said, rising to leave. But as I turned toward the door, she hesitated.
“Wait.” She wrung her hands nervously, her earlier bravado wavering. “It might be nothing… probably just me overthinking things. But lately, Ames has been acting strangely.”
I paused, turning back to her. “Strangely? How so?”
“She’s always been quiet, keeps to herself—you know the type. But recently…” She trailed off, searching for words. “Well, she’s been going out late at night. Not once or twice, but several times now. Strange calls coming in at odd hours. Just the other day, she got upset when I tried to go into her room. Something about her feels off.”
“Do you know who she’s been talking to?” I pressed gently.
She shrugged. “No idea. She mentioned helping someone move or relocate, but it’s all been pretty vague.”
Bingo. This was exactly what I needed. A lead. Amelia wasn’t just tangentially involved; she was neck-deep in whatever mess Nathan Delanza had stumbled into. “Thank you, ma’am. You’ve been most helpful.”
“Will she be alright?” Her voice trembled slightly, concern breaking through her earlier hostility.
“I’ll make sure of it,” I promised, already heading for the door. As soon as I reached my car, I flipped open the file and sifted through the stack of photos until I found Amelia’s.
Pinning it to the front page, I stared at her picture for a long moment.
She wasn’t just a person of interest anymore. She was the key to unraveling this whole tangled web.